Ivie thoo of producing high explosives



Unites States I Ararv5r Y stron HUDSON MAXIM, orPITTSFIELD,MASSACHUSETTS.

METHOD or Psouomc HEGH ex losives;

SPECIFICATION forming of Letters Patent No. 411,127, dated September 17,1889.

Application filed may 13, 1889- To all whom it may corwcrn.

Be it known that I, HUDSON MAXIM, of- Pittsfield, in the county ofBerkshire and State of Massachusetts, have invented a oertain new anduseful Method of Producing High Explosives, of which the following isafull, clear, and exact disoription. I

The object of the invention is to prepare a high explosive in a form sothat, while still retaining all the explosive power of its constituents,it will be in such a compact, solid, and therefore stable condition aswill permit it to be readily'and safely handled and will adapt it to beprojected from ordnance with gunpowder-that is to say, it is the purposeto prepare the explosive so that it may be packed in shells and otherprojectiles and safely fired from guns as shells charged with ordinarygunpowder are commonly fired.

To this end the invention consists in dissolving gun-cotton ornitro-cellulose in a proper solvent which is capable of beingevaporated, adding to the dissolved nitrocellulose nitro-glycerine, andthan evaporating the volatile solvent from the mixture.

In carrying out my invention I first thoroughly dissolve gun-cotton inthesolvent, which usually willbe aliquid, such as acetone or ethylicacetate, or a mixture of sulphuric ether and alcohol. A sufiicientquantity of the solvent will be employed to thoroughly reduce ordissolve all or practically all of the gun-cotton. The nitro-glycerinewill then be added and thoroughly incorporated with the dissolvednitro-eellulose. 'lhe prod not thus produced is now to be spread out andthe volatile solvent evaporated therefrom, the residue being acomparatively hard, dense, and rigid mass, the components of which aremaintained in a stable and safe condition.

This explosive has all the high power of. guncotton or nitro-celluloseand of nitroglycerine, cannot readily be exploded by con-0llSSiOIl,'2il](l may be worked and shaped for the purpose of chargingshells orv projectiles. I

The presence, howcvcr,ot' the nitroglycerinc in the explosive renders itcapable of being exploded by ignition or by a detonating charge offulininate of mercury, or by electricity. The quantity ofnitro-glyccrinc,

however, is not sutlicicntto make it suscep- Serial No. 310,637. (Nomodel.)

in handling or in being discharged froina.

gun with gunpowder-a The quantity of nitro-glycerine in the explosivewill of course depend upon the desired sensitiveness' ofthe compound,and accordingly as the explosive contains more or less ofnitro-glyceriue will it be necessary to employ a detonator of less orgreater energy. In practice the object will be to add only suchquantityof nitro glycerine as will insure the proper instantaneity ofexplosion. I

I have hereinbefore described the solvents to be used as liquid, asthese will usually be preferred; but other solvents may be employedsuchas vapors of various liquid solvents or a partially dry solventor even adry solvent may be used, such \as camphor. I do not therefore limitmyself to any special form or kind of solvent. So, also, thenitroglycerine may be mixed with a solvent capable of dissolving thenitrocellulose and the latter be dissolved in conjunction with thenitro-glycerine. I

I am aware that gun-cotton hasheretofore been reduced to a very tough,dense, and solid mass by solvents, and such process I'do not claim, asthe explosive thus producedhas not the capacity of exploding with thecertainty that my explosive has. It has not the proper degree ofsensitiveness, to the 'de- I 818,670, filed July" 25, 1889. I desire toreserve my right to claim said compound.

\Vhatjs claimed as new is-. p. 1. The hereiu-described process ofproducing high explosivez, consisting in diaolving gun-cotton ornitre-eellulese in wsmitable sol;

'venfl'adfiing to tha dissolved nimilulese nitro-glycerine, and thenevapbmting from ghs; mixture t he; tilg solvent, sazabs tmilyassetforth. I

. 2. fine process hereinmu: $02" mmmw fget-urmg explosives, whichemwfiafia in dis-- solving nitro-cllulose in a volatile solvent,

combining therewith nitro-glycerine, and no evaporating the volatile'solvent therefrpm after the admixture of the'nitrwglycrine.

HUDSON MAXI-M. 'Witneas'es: 1 .ROB'L'F. GAYLORD,

. FRANK EQHURTLEY.

